Vivetique's Pure Grow Wool

Vivetique's Pure Grow Wool (TM)

What is the difference between down and wool?

Wool is the most complex, breathable fiber on earth,
responding to your body temperature by not overheating,
as down tends to do. Down does not handle moisture well,
losing its insulating properties, clumping and separating
as it collects moisture.

Wool is a perfect insulator worn in many areas of the world
to keep warm, yet the Bedouins of the Sahara wear wool because
it keeps them cool.

Dust mites love down because they thrive in dark damp places.
Wool does not provide the damp medium for them to thrive

Wool is a bit weightier than down and will not slip around on
the bed. Our pads and comforter are constructed of full size
layers of batting, hand tufted and/or machine sewn into position
so it will not bunch or separate leaving cold spots.

What is Sonoma County Pure Grow Wool™?

A program initiated by The Natural Bedroom. We follow organic
agricultural practices; no pesticides on the pasture, no chemicals in
the animal feed, use a biodegradable soap for lanolin removal, allow the
wash house to recycle the lanolin, and use a land management system for
low impact on the environment.

Standards for “Pure Grow Wool™” Produced Wool Fibers

Overview The livestock standards emphasize reduction of the use of toxic substances that might contaminate the wool, stress reduction, and good nutrition to maximize animal health. The Natural Bedroom livestock production guidelines require the active prevention of disease through nutrition, positive management of living conditions, and the humane treatment of all animals. It cannot be overemphasized.

1. Staple Length The ideal
staple length is between 2.75 and 3.25 inches. Wool with

staple length less than 2.5
inches will not be accepted, nor will staple length longer

than 4.5 inches.

2. Color White and bright
wool are highly desirable, therefore, fleece with stains and/or fleece rot will
not be accepted unless the fleece is skirted and stains are removed. Wool with
canary yellow color will be accepted, however, the price paid may be discounted.
At shearing, blackface sheep should be separated and shorn last. Wool from
blackface sheep should never be mixed with whiteface wool.

3. Skirting is required for
removal of obvious black fibers and vegetative matter along with the removal of
all tags, skin pieces, crutchings, topknots, leg wool (shanks), cheeks and
paint brands. Fleece must be carefully and minimally skirted to ensure that
only inferior wool is removed and all good fleece wool remains with the fleece.
It is the responsibility of the producer and the shearer to assure that the
minimum number of second cuts are made by shearers. Clip with a high number of
second cuts will be discounted or rejected.

Fleece that is clotted must
be removed from the clip at shearing. Clip with excessive kemp will not be
accepted.

4. Paint Brand It is
preferable that methods other than paint branding be used for animal
identification; however, if paint brands are used, the brand must be placed on
a spot on the animal that allows maximum wool to remain after the brand’s removal.
Wool branded with non-scourable branding fluid will not be accepted. If brands
cannot be eliminated, blue is the best color to use when branding; red is an undesirable
color.

5. Fiber Strength Broken or
tender wool will not be accepted because the fiber is less resilient and will
be subject to breakage, affecting the resulting length of the fiber. Fleece
should be tested for breaks and tenderness and those found to be broken or tender
are removed from the clip. Wool that can withstand 7 pounds of pressure are

considered to be sound.6.
Yield Fleece will be accepted or rejected after scouring and payment will be calculated based on scoured yield. The
acceptable minimum yield is 58%; lower yields may be rejected or heavily
discounted.

6. Yield Fleece will be
accepted or rejected after scouring and payment will be calculated based on
scoured yield. The acceptable minimum yield is 58%; lower yields may be
rejected or heavily discounted.Suggested management practices that can affect
yield:

a. Shear before seed heads
mature to reduce vegetable matter.

b. Tag before shearing to
decrease the amount of stained wool.

c. Maintain a clean shearing
floor (increases yield by 3%-5%).

d. Skirt fleeces (required by
The Natural Bedroom)

7. Vegetable Matter: Due to
the nature of its business, it is especially important to The Natural Bedroom
to have wool that is free from noticeable prickly vegetable matter. Wool that
requires carbonizing to remove excess vegetable matter will not be accepted, as
the carbonizing process results in decreased fiber strength and harsher feeling
wool.

The amount of vegetable
matter can be decreased by management practices:

a. Avoid throwing hay on the
back of sheep and pouring grain on their heads and neck during feeding.

b. Shear before seed heads
mature.

c. Restrict sheep from
grazing areas that contain plants known to cause contamination, especially when
their fleece are long.

d. Clear corrals of
vegetation before using.

e. Avoid bedding sheep on hay
or straw prior to shearing.

f. Skirt fleece (required by
The Natural Bedroom).

8. Polypropylene The Natural
Bedroom will not purchase any wool that has been contaminated with
polypropylene. If hay is fed that is tied with poly twine, the

producer should take all
steps necessary to assure that the poly twine does not

contaminate the wool clip. If
the hay is bought, wire bales should be purchased when

possible.

9. Residues Fleece with
residue of pesticides, herbicides, topical medications, or other